Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC

Brian V Knapke

Lloyd G Racine

Patrick F Rose

Atul Jagannath Patil

Ned W Wright

Jason M Sidders

Aaron D Gries

Kurt P Gillen

Benjamin J Passino

Robert D Keller

Daniel D Carmean

Melvin B Mozingo

Jeremy M Frenznick

Stoyan I Stoychev

Nicholas W Laforce

Venkata Ramakanth Kona

Robert L Vailliencourt

Blake T Garretson

Scott V Anderson

Shad J Falls

Venkata R Kona

Systems for a differential are provided. The differential includes two sets of pinion gears with an asymmetric split tooth profile. A case of the differential includes a plurality of lubrication ports which open adjacent to untoothed sections of one set of pinion gears and in a drive mode and an outboard axial load is exerted on the corresponding set of pinion gears.

Differential with lubrication ports

Drivetrain systems and methods are provided. In one example, the drivetrain system includes an interaxle differential (IAD) configured to receive power from a prime mover, a motor configured to drive a planetary gearset, and a ball ramp actuator configured to selectively engage a plurality of plates in a clutch pack of a friction clutch in response to receiving rotational input from the planetary gearset. In an engaged configuration, the friction clutch prevents speed differentiation between a first IAD output and a second IAD output.

Vehicle drivetrain with interaxle differential and method for drivetrain operation

Systems and methods for an interaxle differential (IAD). In one example, the IAD comprises a locking assembly that includes a friction clutch, the friction clutch includes a clutch pack that comprises plurality of plates configured to engage and disengage to inhibit and permit speed differentiation between a first axle differential and a second axle differential. The IAD further includes a supply lubrication passage that comprises an inlet that receives a lubricant from an enclosure surrounding an input gear of an axle differential and a first outlet flowing the lubricant to a gear coupled to the clutch pack.

Methods and systems are provided for an actuation system for a parking mechanism in a transmission system of a vehicle. In one example, a system may include a protrusion positioned at one end of a higher diameter portion of a cam, the protrusion positioned to contact a pawl upon engagement of the pawl with a parking gear.

Methods and systems for a parking mechanism

Systems and methods for an interaxle differential (IAD) are provided. In one example, the IAD comprises a locking assembly that includes a friction clutch, the friction clutch includes a clutch pack that comprises plurality of plates configured to engage and disengage to inhibit and permit speed differentiation between a first axle differential and a second axle differential. The IAD further includes a supply lubrication passage that comprises an inlet that receives a lubricant from an enclosure surrounding an input gear of an axle differential and a first outlet flowing the lubricant to a gear coupled to the clutch pack.

Methods and systems for a locking mechanism in an inter-axle differential are provided. A vehicle system, in one example, includes an electric motor coupled to a clutch assembly in a locking mechanism of an inter-axle differential coupled to a first axle and a second axle, the clutch assembly is configured to selectively disengage the locking mechanism, and in the disengaged configuration the locking mechanism permits speed differentiation between the first and second axles. The system further includes an electric motor brake coupled to the electric motor and configured to selectively apply a brake torque to the electric motor and the electric motor is configured to actuate the clutch assembly.

Inter-axle differential and method for operation of said inter-axle differential

A parking mechanism for use in a vehicle and method of operation thereof. The parking mechanism includes one or more actuation mechanisms, a parking pawl and a parking gear. At least a portion of the one or more actuation mechanisms are drivingly connected to at least a portion of a cam. The parking pawl has one or more parking pawl teeth extending therefrom that are selectively engagable with at least a portion of one or more parking gear teeth extending from an outer surface of a body portion of the parking gear. The parking pawl also includes a parking pawl pin aperture having a size and shape needed to receive and/or retain at least a portion of a parking pawl pin therein.

Parking mechanism and method of operation thereof

A wheel speed sensor system for determining the rotational speed of the wheels mounted at the opposite ends of an axle without requiring wheel speed sensor assemblies for each wheel shaft axle. As a result, the speed sensor system of the present disclosure can be housed in small sized or small capacity axle housing such as banjo type housings. In one embodiment, a wheel speed sensor assembly is positioned in the axle housing to determine the speed of one of the wheel axle shafts and a differential speed sensor assembly is positioned in the axle housing to determine the rotational speed of the differential. With these two speed measurements the rotational speed of the other wheel axle shaft can be calculated by a control unit. The wheel and differential speed sensor assemblies can each include a toothed or slotted ring or disk and sensor for sensing the teeth. In each of the wheel and differential speed sensor assemblies, one of the tone ring and sensor can be mounted for rotation with a wheel axle shaft and gear of the differential respectively and the other can be fixedly mounted. The sensors can detect the passage of teeth over time via the relative motion of the teeth and sensor to determine rotational speed.

Two-channel wheel speed sensor system

A rotary joint assembly including a rotating portion. The rotating portion includes an annular body and a pair of annular sealing members. Each annular sealing member of the pair of annular sealing members is attached to a side of the annular body. An air passageway is formed in the annular body. The rotary joint assembly also includes a non-rotating portion. The non-rotating portion has a non-rotating portion air passageway formed therein. The non-rotating portion air passageway is in fluid communication with the air passageway formed in the annular body. A pair of annular air seal members are provided between the rotating portion and the non-rotating portion. Each annular air seal member of the pair of annular air seal members contacts a sealing surface of one of the annular seal members to provide a seal around an interface between the air passageway formed in the annular body and the non-rotating portion air passageway.

Rotary joint assembly

A hub assembly for a tire inflation system includes a hub configured to hold a wheel assembly. The hub has a hub conduit formed therethrough. The hub conduit has an inlet formed in an inner surface of the hub and an outlet formed adjacent an outboard end of the hub. A vent is formed in the hub. The vent includes one or more vent conduits which extend from the inner surface to an outer surface of the hub.

Hub assembly for a tire inflation system

The present invention provides an improved inter-axle differential assembly to limit axle tire slip by limiting the excessive inter-axle differentiation between front and rear axles in a tandem axle set. The present invention provides an inter-axle differential assembly comprising a differential case including a cylindrical housing, an annular axial end surface connected to the cylindrical housing, an end cover plate wherein the annular axial end surface and the end cover plate include openings for receiving coaxial input and output shafts, a hollow chamber defined by the cylindrical housing, the annular axial end surface, and the end cover plate which houses differential gear assembly, and an unitary gear set extending continuously in the radial direction from the cylindrical housing.

Limited slip inter-axle differential

A tire inflation system including an axle housing and a sealing ring disposed on the axle housing. The sealing ring has a conduit formed therethrough. A hub is rotatably disposed on the axle housing. The hub is disposed adjacent the sealing ring and has a conduit formed therethrough which is in fluid communication with a conduit formed through a fastener engaged with the hub. The tire inflation system also includes an inner rotary seal disposed between the sealing ring and the hub and an outer rotary seal disposed between the sealing ring and the hub. The conduit formed through the hub is in fluid communication with the conduit formed through the sealing ring through an area between the inner rotary seal and the outer rotary seal. A bearing seal is disposed between the hub and the axle housing and outboard of the outer rotary seal.

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Toledo, OH, United States of America

Brian V Knapke